Delia Opekokew
Encyclopedia
Delia Opekokew is a Canadian
lawyer. A Cree
from the Canoe Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan
, she was the first First Nations
lawyer ever admitted to the bar association in Ontario
and in Saskatchewan
, as well as the first woman ever to run for the leadership of the Assembly of First Nations
.
Opekokew graduated from Osgoode Hall
in 1977, and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1979 and to the Bar of Saskatchewan in 1983. She was initially a partner in her own law firm, Zlotkin & Opekokew, which she soon left in order to become legal counsel to the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
from 1980 to 1985, and later became an associate with Blaney, McMurty, and Stapells from 1985 to 1990. She subsequently worked in First Nations law across Canada, including stints as a commissioner investigating the shooting death of Leo Lachance and as lead counsel in Kenneth Deane's trial for the shooting death of Dudley George.
She was a candidate in the AFN's 1994 leadership convention
, but lost to Ovide Mercredi
.
She is currently a partner in the Saskatoon
law firm of Opekokew, Johnstone-Clarke.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
lawyer. A Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
from the Canoe Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, she was the first First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
lawyer ever admitted to the bar association in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, as well as the first woman ever to run for the leadership of the Assembly of First Nations
Assembly of First Nations
The Assembly of First Nations , formerly known as the National Indian Brotherhood, is a body of First Nations leaders in Canada...
.
Opekokew graduated from Osgoode Hall
Osgoode Hall
Osgoode Hall is a landmark building in downtown Toronto constructed between 1829 and 1832 in the late Georgian Palladian and Neoclassical styles. It houses the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Divisional Court of the Superior Court of Justice, and the Law Society of Upper Canada...
in 1977, and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1979 and to the Bar of Saskatchewan in 1983. She was initially a partner in her own law firm, Zlotkin & Opekokew, which she soon left in order to become legal counsel to the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is a Saskatchewan-based First Nations organization.The federation grew out of a number of different organizations. Although the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians was organized in 1959 , it grew out of the Union of Saskatchewan Indians, founded...
from 1980 to 1985, and later became an associate with Blaney, McMurty, and Stapells from 1985 to 1990. She subsequently worked in First Nations law across Canada, including stints as a commissioner investigating the shooting death of Leo Lachance and as lead counsel in Kenneth Deane's trial for the shooting death of Dudley George.
She was a candidate in the AFN's 1994 leadership convention
Assembly of First Nations leadership conventions
Assembly of First Nations leadership elections are held every three years to elect the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. Each chief of a First Nation in Canada is eligible to cast a vote. Currently there are 633 eligible voters.AFN rules state that a candidate needs 60% of the...
, but lost to Ovide Mercredi
Ovide Mercredi
Ovide William Mercredi, OM is an Aboriginal Canadian politician. He is Cree and a former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations....
.
She is currently a partner in the Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
law firm of Opekokew, Johnstone-Clarke.